Big 12 Basketball Schedule Analysis: Iowa State Cyclones

Leading up to Big 12 media days in Kansas City Heartland College Sports will analyze each of the Big 12 men’s basketball schedules. Today it’s the Iowa State Cyclones.

Season opener: The Cyclones will open the season on Nov. 6 against Alabama State, the first of three home games to start the season.

Tournaments: Iowa State will play in the Maui Invitational this year, starting with an on-campus game against Texas Southern before heading to the islands to face Arizona, then Gonzaga or Illinois and then at least one more game. The Cyclones will also make the short trip to Des Moines to play Drake in the Hy-Vee Classic.

The Big Non-Con: The annual game with Iowa is always a big one. But the Cyclones set the tone early for their schedule with a Nov. 9 game against Missouri in Ames. The Tigers went 20-13 last year and reached the NCAA Tournament. The game should give the Cyclones an early gauge of where they are as a team.

Mid-Major Danger: Texas Southern may look like a bad team given its 16-20 record last year. But the Tigers won the SWAC, won a First Four game and then lost to Xavier in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers barnstorm every non-conference season to make money and face power conference teams every season. Plus, their new head coach, Johnny Jones, has power conference experience from his days at LSU. If any mid-major team can come into Ames and steal one from the Cyclones, it’s the Tigers.

Big 12 Opener: The Cyclones find themselves on the road on Jan. 2 against Oklahoma State, which reached the NIT last season.

The Big 12/SEC Game: The Cyclones have to go to Oxford, Miss., to face Ole Miss on Jan. 26. The Rebels are trying to rebuild after a 12-20 season last year.

The ‘Big’ Big 12 stretch: Before the Cyclones get to the Big 12-SEC Challenge, they face a six-game stretch that could seriously impact their fortunes. From Jan. 5-21 the Cyclones face Kansas twice, travel to Texas Tech and Baylor, host Kansas State and face Oklahoma State for a second time. That’s two meetings with a Final Four team, two meetings with Elite Eight teams and two meetings with NIT teams. If the Cyclones can get through this stretch 3-3, they should feel good about that.